Philadelphia Yearly Meeting

of the Religious Society of Friends

Peace & Social Justice

Quaker Voluntary Service – Reflecting on a Life Changing Work Experience

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Quaker Voluntary Service (QVS) was founded in 2011 and though young in years, QVS sees itself as “a modern expression of a long-standing tradition of Spirit-grounded service and witness in the Quaker tradition.” The first QVS house was piloted in 2012 in Atlanta, GA. It was soon followed by others in Philadelphia and Portland, OR, Boston, and finally Minneapolis.

Since launching, QVS has placed more than 200 QVS fellows in meaningful jobs across the United States. QVS’s new Alumni Coordinator helps former Fellows stay connected with current QVS Fellows, their own program cohort, as well as with the Religious Society of Friends. This extends a year of engagement into a lifetime of benefit.

[Read more…] about Quaker Voluntary Service – Reflecting on a Life Changing Work Experience

Anti-Blackness Thread Gathering: Change Happens When A Thought Becomes An Action

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On January 23, 2021, 126 people devoted six hours on a Saturday to attend PYM’s Addressing anti-Blackness Thread Gathering. Organized by Community Engagement Coordinator, Olivia Brangan and Events and Resources Coordinator, T.J. Jourian, the event featured Sarah Willie-LeBreton, Provost and Dean of the Faculty at Swarthmore College and Oskar Castro, Director of HR and Inclusion at Philadelphia Yearly Meeting. Tenaja Henson, NC Campaign Coordinator for Reproaction, while unable to attend, was also to be featured and contributed to the planning and visioning of the event, along with Sarah and Oskar. [Read more…] about Anti-Blackness Thread Gathering: Change Happens When A Thought Becomes An Action

Life in Prison as a Juvenile: Post Incarceration Stories Shared at Gwynedd

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Deb Hejl, co-clerk of the Legislative Policy Collaborative, submitted the story below about healing circles at the Youth Sentencing and Reentry Project (YSOP). February is a good month to focus on our nation’s problems with incarceration, because there is still time to get informed and ready for FCNL’s Spring Lobbying Sessions.

The school to prison pipeline, and ongoing inequalities faced by persons of color within the policing and judicial systems are things our society must face. Behind the large problems, though, are human hearts and minds that bear witness to the impact on children who have been sentenced to prison for a ‘lifetime of punishment.’ [Read more…] about Life in Prison as a Juvenile: Post Incarceration Stories Shared at Gwynedd

Quakers in Education: Sarah Willie-LeBreton, Sociologist and Swarthmore Dean

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To meet Sarah Willie-LeBreton, Ph.D. is to encounter an exceptionally grounded Friend with a deep knowledge of human societies. Currently Swarthmore College’s Provost and Dean of the Faculty since 2018, Sarah was appointed after having chaired the Department of Sociology & Anthropology (2009-2018), chaired the President’s Task Force on Sexual Misconduct (2013-14), served as Associate Provost (2005-8), and coordinated the Black Studies Program on and off for more than a decade beginning in 1998. Somehow, as she does all this, she has still found time to be present in leading PYM towards growth in important areas. [Read more…] about Quakers in Education: Sarah Willie-LeBreton, Sociologist and Swarthmore Dean

Share Your Meeting’s Spiritual Self-Assessment

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Dearest Friends in PYM Monthly and Quarterly Meetings and other PYM Quaker Groups,

We trust this finds you seeking to be grounded in Spirit and in your community of faith. 2020 has certainly been a year filled with both opportunities and challenges! The Ministry and Care Committee of Quaker Life Council is once again asking for your help as we look to better understand the spiritual state of our yearly meeting through this past year.

To accomplish this, we are asking meetings to consider responding to the following queries: [Read more…] about Share Your Meeting’s Spiritual Self-Assessment

Black History: Celebrate in February, Include All Year

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Let us center the experience and contributions of Black Americans throughout history and today. The resources below provide an opportunity to do so while exploring racism, privilege, and bias with young people in our care. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as a leader in the Civil Rights Movement, was one among many Black Americans who built a community and network of activists to achieve change, and there is more work to do.

[Read more…] about Black History: Celebrate in February, Include All Year

Video: Discussion On Small Miracles: A Holocaust Story from France

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Haddonfield Monthly Meeting recently sponsored a book discussion featuring Dave Austin and Charles Middleberg, co-authors of “Small Miracles: A Holocaust Story from France.” Veronica Salaam acted as host.

This book reveals the many “small” ways that people can assist others at crucial times in their lives and is based on Middleberg’s experiences as a Jewish child during the Nazi period. [Read more…] about Video: Discussion On Small Miracles: A Holocaust Story from France

Providence Young Friends Host Immigration Vigil At Delaware County Courthouse

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Providence Meeting’s Middle School Friends led a highly successful vigil for immigrant rights at the Delaware County Courthouse on October 3, 2020. The event was to focus attention on the treatment of immigrants on the U.S. border and a call for action to address this issue. Supporting our middle school Friends were a large contingent from the Movement of Immigrant Leaders of Pennsylvania (MILPA) and local elected officials. [Read more…] about Providence Young Friends Host Immigration Vigil At Delaware County Courthouse

PYM Statement Concerning the January 6th Capital Insurrection

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The events that have happened in our nation’s capital are deeply concerning. Below is a quote from Faith and Practice followed by a message from your Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Co-Clerks, Jean-Marie Prestwidge Barch and Frank Barch, and the General Secretary, Christie Duncan-Tessmer [Read more…] about PYM Statement Concerning the January 6th Capital Insurrection

Zoom with former NPR Correspondent, Andrea Seabrook

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The following story was submitted by Lehigh Valley Meeting member John Marquette. He attended the Zoom talk with Andrea Seabrook on January 6th. As a former NPR National Political Correspondent, Andrea created the event in response to the January 6th storming of the capital by Trump supporters. The Zoom was attended by more than 20 Quakers and friends, and served as a window into the soul of politics as seen by Andrea and others. [Read more…] about Zoom with former NPR Correspondent, Andrea Seabrook